Sanwei Target National Review: A Budget Unboosted Hurricane 3 (Neo) Alternative I Enjoyed Less Than Battle 2

[victormanriquey]

Good morning all!

I just finished the review of the Sanwei Target National (new grey/silver metallic package) and I know this may be a bit controversial but in my opinion, I still prefer the Friendship 729 Battle 2 as an unboosted alternative to Hurricane 3 (Neo). I used to play with the Battle 2 in the past and I'm now redoing the testing in depth with the normal Battle 2, the blue sponge provincial Battle 2 and the Neo Battle 2, and in all cases I feel better with all Battle 2s instead of with the Sanwei Target National.

I tell you all the reasons why in the full blogpost as always: https://www.tabletennisequipmenthelp.com/blog/sanwei-target-national-review

But as a short summary, even though both the Target National and the Battle 2 have low throws (the 2 blue sponges, orange sponge has a higher throw), Battle 2 has a more balanced speed/spin ratio for my personal taste, it grips the ball better in the different rally situations and it lasts significantly longer due to the long tackiness, but in the Target National that is an issue as other reviewers have also mentioned. Funny detail: some people in China use it on the backhand, I have more details on that in the blogpost.

As always also here is the TL;DR table for those in a hurry:

Category	Sanwei Target National
Weight	67g uncut (with thin protector), 50g cut
Sponge & Topsheet	Hard blue cake sponge with visible pores, 40 degrees but feels harder, medium tacky topsheet that fades fast, boosted 'click feeling'
Speed & Gears	Similar boosted H3N blue sponge power, fewer gears than Hurricane 3 Neo or Battle 2, less linear than I expected
Spin potential	A lot, but less than H3N and Battle 2, trades spin for speed
Throw angle	Low, the main problem, long flat flight distance
Drives & Loops	Great counterloops, demanding loops, opening heavy backspin sometimes feels all or nothing
Serves	Good long serves, less good shorter serves, worse than H3N and Battle 2, gets worse as the tack fades
Flicks	Difficult on the forehand, easier on the backhand
Pushes	Very good, short and even better long, a lot of spin
Blocks	Good at low and medium speed, better with mini counters against power loops, otherwise easy for the ball to fly away
Flat hits	Better than Hurricane 3 Neo and Battle 2
Boosting	Not needed, one layer if you want more throw but also more speed
Price & Durability	Around 25 euros, tack almost gone after 1 month, 2-3 months max at peak performance

Next up I'm wrapping up the Xiom Vega China review (spoiler: it has definitely a more D09c, BlueGrip C2, Helix Hybrid taste than H3N) and then I'll publish the big Battle 2 review and after that hope to close the year with the BlueGrip J1 & J2, maybe also with a round of the best hybrids I've tested in 2026, let's see what work allows me to publish

And yes, I'm also testing now a bit of grip tape on my blades to make them more anatomic, I have changed my grip slightly (more towards backhand, less shallow, bit deeper) and this combined to the fact that my finger injury has gotten a bit worse (from being a goalie in the past) means I'm looking for ways to make the handle more comfortable, so ignore the quick and dirty tape job haha I'm testing the W81 ADC soon as I liked the grip 2 weeks ago, I may change toi that as main/test blade, let's see in the coming weeks.

OK that was all good people! Thanks a lot for reading and please ask any questions you may have and drop any feedback, challenges, or comments you may have, let's talk!

Take care and have a nice sunday!

Victor

ps. I have expanded the rubber database with a new cool speed vs spin grid mode, I really like it so let me know your thoughts on it too: https://www.tabletennisequipmenthelp.com/rubber-database?view=grid

ps2. The (Neo) parenthesis thing in the title is because I sometimes felt like the STN is more similar to a classic Hurricane than to a H3N, so I see some use cases for that for sure, I tell you more about it in the blogpost.

 

[belllfador]

Thanks for the review. Tried other versions of STN, and don't like them. Overall not bad rubbers, just nothing special. Can confirm that the new Vega China is closer to euro hybrids than to boosted H3. Any chance you try Xiom Tau 55.5 or 57.5 in the future?

 

[victormanriquey]

Thanks for the extra confirmation @belllfador , always good when more people have the same impressions, and also good to hear about the other versions of STN, I haven't tried those but from what you are saying I will put them on low prio then And yeah Vega China surprised me, I was expected more of a H3 and then read the comments from others that they had changed the recipe, oh well, it is what it is.

Yes I need to get to Tau one day, it's high on the list for H3 alternatives, have you or anybody else here more info on them?

 

[Haito]

So it is not worth bothering to try it, right?

 

[victormanriquey]

So it is not worth bothering to try it, right?

In my personal opinion no, unless you want a classic Hurricane 3 no-boost alternative, but even then, I prefer the Neos for the modern game

 

[Matteones]

I love that the title tells me everything I need to know about this rubber

 

[victormanriquey]

I love that the title tells me everything I need to know about this rubber

haha I don't do clickbaits, or at least I try Your should be able to find the info quick, then read more if you want the details glad you like it like this! I would also prefer this if I was reading hahaa

 

[belllfador]

Thanks for the extra confirmation @belllfador , always good when more people have the same impressions, and also good to hear about the other versions of STN, I haven't tried those but from what you are saying I will put them on low prio then And yeah Vega China surprised me, I was expected more of a H3 and then read the comments from others that they had changed the recipe, oh well, it is what it is.

Yes I need to get to Tau one day, it's high on the list for H3 alternatives, have you or anybody else here more info on them?

I am playing with Tau 55.5 and still in the honeymoon phase. Is very close to boosted H3 B3, and even more.

 

[latej]

Of the H3 alternatives (meaning sponge similarity) I disliked STN the most, more than B2, actually much more than B2, and truth be said I don't like B2 at all, LOL... I'm glad someone finally voices similar opinion.

 

[Archo]

I haven't tried this new version (Which is supposed to be faster and less tacky than the ones I tried!) but the ones I tried were waaaaayyyyy too fast compared to what spin they make. Also highly variable performance. Insane spin on the first hour or so, then a sharp drop that kept going until spin settled at well below H3.

Pass for me.

Of the H3 alternatives (meaning sponge similarity) I disliked STN the most, more than B2, actually much more than B2, and truth be said I don't like B2 at all, LOL... I'm glad someone finally voices similar opinion.

I found B2 really needs a highly flexible but also linear blade. Something like Fextra 7 or Clipper. When I tried it on dynamic inner carbon blades, I didn't like it, somehow it becomes really hard to play compared to other hard sponge China rubbers.

 

[victormanriquey]

I am playing with Tau 55.5 and still in the honeymoon phase. Is very close to boosted H3 B3, and even more.

Oh nice keep me posted please, it does jump in prio in that case

 

[victormanriquey]

Of the H3 alternatives (meaning sponge similarity) I disliked STN the most, more than B2, actually much more than B2, and truth be said I don't like B2 at all, LOL... I'm glad someone finally voices similar opinion.

Haha I'm happy we can agree on this one, I think there has been a lot of marketing budget allocated at giving it good reviews, but if you test it properly with a neutral view, the conclusion is different, it does have some good things, but its not good enough for the top picks thats for sure

 

[victormanriquey]

I haven't tried this new version (Which is supposed to be faster and less tacky than the ones I tried!) but the ones I tried were waaaaayyyyy too fast compared to what spin they make. Also highly variable performance. Insane spin on the first hour or so, then a sharp drop that kept going until spin settled at well below H3.

Pass for me.



I found B2 really needs a highly flexible but also linear blade. Something like Fextra 7 or Clipper. When I tried it on dynamic inner carbon blades, I didn't like it, somehow it becomes really hard to play compared to other hard sponge China rubbers.

Yeah I didnt like the speed/spin ratio as well, specially combined with the throw.

B2 blue sponge is indeed better balanced for the throw on softer/flexier blades, on inner blades its not that bad but you need to work harder, orange sponge also a bit better there

 

[JustANoob]

While I've tried an older version I believe my reaction to it was kind of the same, it actually never felt like an h3 alternative, its felt like "a rubber", had some speed to it but I never managed to generate spin similar to h3 or b2.

 

[Archo]

I thought the Fextra 7 and Fextra 5X were good value for money, but in general it seems like Sanwei is more interested in AI slop marketing blurbs and paying people to endorse them than making products that'd actually compete with the established brands.

Nothing I've tried from them is particularly advanced or really performant but they gas it up like it's way better than everything else when they're 1 or 2 generations behind DHS, BTY and ESN. Maybe the white packet "player edition" is okay, but I'd rather buy another sheet of H3.

The value proposition is pretty bad on the rubbers too; expensive compared to honestly better alternatives from budget brands like Yinhe and Loki, and many of the rubbers are as or more expensive than higher performance brands like DHS!

 

[victormanriquey]

While I've tried an older version I believe my reaction to it was kind of the same, it actually never felt like an h3 alternative, its felt like "a rubber", had some speed to it but I never managed to generate spin similar to h3 or b2.

Yeah agreed to this, it doesn't feel special, it's more like a fast H3 but you lose enough important things that I don't want to lose.

I thought the Fextra 7 and Fextra 5X were good value for money, but in general it seems like Sanwei is more interested in AI slop marketing blurbs and paying people to endorse them than making products that'd actually compete with the established brands.

Nothing I've tried from them is particularly advanced or really performant but they gas it up like it's way better than everything else when they're 1 or 2 generations behind DHS, BTY and ESN. Maybe the white packet "player edition" is okay, but I'd rather buy another sheet of H3.

The value proposition is pretty bad on the rubbers too; expensive compared to honestly better alternatives from budget brands like Yinhe and Loki, and many of the rubbers are as or more expensive than higher performance brands like DHS!

Fextra 7 is an excellent blade indeed, agreed, certainly for the price.

So far I have to agree that I have liked Yinhe and Loki stuff more, mercury 2 and asia 3 are really good for the price, and Rxton 9 + W81 adc has also been good (will need deeper testing but still first impression good), so yeah, I also don't like when brands buy verdicts, if its good it is good and Im the first to say it, but if it's not that good well then it needs to be said and improved on, part of the normal feedback process of making any products

 

[Archo]

So far I have to agree that I have liked Yinhe and Loki stuff more

I didn't like the W81 Pro Inner at all (it's not dynamic enough for me, too stiff as well) and nobody I gave it to try liked it either, but I will say it's very robust and much better put together than DHS and Sanwei blades. Yinhe also looks pretty bulletproof. Those are important things for people on a budget who aren't going to be buying a new blade every year.

I also love the rubber protectors that come with Yinhe's better rubbers (I'm using them with H3 right now; they're super reusable and will probably survive years without tearing like cheaper ones do) and the sponges being mostly pre-glued and pre-boosted is really attractive. If H3 wasn't a thing or I was on a serious budget then I'd probably be using J3.

 

[victormanriquey]

I didn't like the W81 Pro Inner at all (it's not dynamic enough for me, too stiff as well) and nobody I gave it to try liked it either, but I will say it's very robust and much better put together than DHS and Sanwei blades. Yinhe also looks pretty bulletproof. Those are important things for people on a budget who aren't going to be buying a new blade every year.

I also love the rubber protectors that come with Yinhe's better rubbers (I'm using them with H3 right now; they're super reusable and will probably survive years without tearing like cheaper ones do) and the sponges being mostly pre-glued and pre-boosted is really attractive. If H3 wasn't a thing or I was on a serious budget then I'd probably be using J3.

Interesting, now I'm curious how the W81 Pro Inner differs from the W81 ADC that I tested and will be testing soon again, @Haito have you tested these 2 and can say something about it? You are the Loki guy The normal ADC looks very well made indeed.

And yes, I use the yinhe protectors as well with the H3N, I you a couple guys who do the same haha

 

[Haito]

Interesting, now I'm curious how the W81 Pro Inner differs from the W81 ADC that I tested and will be testing soon again, @Haito have you tested these 2 and can say something about it? You are the Loki guy The normal ADC looks very well made indeed.

And yes, I use the yinhe protectors as well with the H3N, I you a couple guys who do the same haha

It really depends on which one you got. If you got it from Aliexpress, you might have gotten the "special" which is indication of higher quality in Loki lineup. I've never tried the Special, but in fact it should require more power. Composition and tech wise, they should be identical.

@Archo Take a sanding block block, sand the face a bit like uncle Zhang shows, and put rubbers with 2 layers of glue on rubber and try again :| Maybe then it will be a bit better.

 

[victormanriquey]

It really depends on which one you got. If you got it from Aliexpress, you might have gotten the "special" which is indication of higher quality in Loki lineup. I've never tried the Special, but in fact it should require more power. Composition and tech wise, they should be identical.

@Archo Take a sanding block block, sand the face a bit like uncle Zhang shows, and put rubbers with 2 layers of glue on rubber and try again :| Maybe then it will be a bit better.

Ok thanks for the info, should be the same blade then in essence